Feb. 9, 2013

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -

No. 28 Arizona women's tennis (4-3) dropped its match against No. 49 San Diego, 4-2, on Saturday afternoon.

After a rain out yesterday at San Diego State, Saturday's match also began with a rain delay. Arizona and San Diego waited for an hour until weather conditions became suitable to resume action.

“This loss hurts,” Arizona head coach Vicky Maes said. “We won the doubles point playing really good tennis”

The Wildcats took the final two matches of doubles play to earn the doubles point.

UA Juniors Akilah James (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Susan Mc Rann (Dublin, Ireland) recorded their sixth win as doubles partners at the No. 3 spot.

Arizona Junior Lacey Smyth (Oceanside, Calif.) and freshman Shayne Austin (Oak Park, Calif.) won their first doubles match playing at the No. 1 spot. The pair defeated Claus and Blecher, 8-5, to give the Wildcats the lead heading into singles play.

“I felt we were in a good position to win three singles,” Maes said. “Unfortunately, Kim (Stubbe) got hurt in her doubles and wasn't herself after that. However, that's when everyone else needs to step up and that didn't happen today.”

The Wildcats would drop its first match in singles play, but Smyth regained the lead for Arizona by defeating Stephanie Hoffpauir, 6-4, 6-3. With the win, Smyth recorded her sixth singles victory of the season at the No. 1 spot.

However, San Diego would take the next two singles matches and gain the lead over the Wildcats.

In the deciding match, UA sophomore Laura Oldham (Sheffied, England) battled Shani Blecher to three sets, but Blecher clinched the match by winning, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3.

“We need to be able to count on everyone,” Maes said. “If we are going to win as a team. Hopefully, this hard lesson will help us be better next weekend.”

The Wildcats will return home to host No. 56 Fresno State on Friday, Feb. 15 at 1:30 p.m. MST and Santa Clara on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 10:00 a.m. MST.

For immediate results and continued coverage of Arizona Women's Tennis, visit ArizonaWildcats.com. For match updates, visit the Arizona Women's Tennis Facebook page.

DOUBLES

1. Smyth/Austin (Arizona) def. Claus/Blecher (USD) 8-5

2. Depenau/Stojanovic (USD) def. Hendrikx/Stubbe (Arizona) 4-0 won by retirement

3. Mc Rann/James (Arizona) def. Brown/Hoffpauir (USD) 8-2

Order of Finish: (2, 3, 1)

SINGLES

1. Lacey Smyth (UA) def. Stephanie Hoffpauir (USD) 6-4, 6-3

2. Laura Claus (USD) def. Kim Stubbe (UA) 6-4, 6-1

3. Shani Blecher (USD) def. Laura Oldham (UA) 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3

4. Anna Depenau (USD) vs. Akilah James (UA) 7-6, 2-6, 1-3, unfinished

5. Marta Stojanovic (USD) def. Shayne Austin (UA) 6-3, 6-3

6. Cara Brown (USD) def. Inge Hendrikx (UA) 6-4, 6-3

Order of finish: 2, 1, 5, 6, 3*

*Indicates when match was clinched